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Walking the Elephant out of the room

The Elephant in the Room: Addressing It with Thoughtful Leadership

An "elephant in the room" represents more than just discomfort; it’s an opportunity for growth and transformation. When approached thoughtfully, addressing such issues fosters trust, clarity, and stronger relationships. By anchoring actions in sound thinking practices, leaders ensure that resolutions are not just quick fixes but sustainable solutions.

Good Thinking Practices Behind Leadership Actions

1. Acknowledge the Elephant with Emotional Intelligence

   • Practice: Leaders should develop self-awareness and recognize the tension or avoidance behavior, both in themselves and others.

   • Why It Matters: By naming the issue with empathy, leaders defuse its emotional charge.

   • Example: In a family, saying, “I sense we’re all feeling uneasy about last week’s argument,” shows you’re attuned to emotions, making others feel safe to open up.

     
     

2. Foster a Safe Space Through Psychological Safety

   • Practice: Cultivate an environment where people feel they can express themselves without fear of judgment or retaliation.

   • Why It Matters: Amy Edmondson’s research on psychological safety highlights that open communication leads to innovation and team cohesion.

   • Example: In business, a leader might say, “No idea is too small or too critical to share. Let’s focus on solutions, not blame.”

     
     

3. Listen Actively with Systems Thinking

   • Practice: Use active listening to identify interconnected causes and ripple effects, considering how different perspectives contribute to the bigger picture.

   • Why It Matters: Understanding how one issue affects the entire system avoids tunnel vision and ensures holistic solutions.

   • Example: In a workplace, declining sales may stem from misaligned marketing, unclear roles, or customer dissatisfaction. Listening uncovers these layers.

     
     

4. Collaborate Using Design Thinking

   • Practice: Frame the issue as a collaborative problem-solving challenge where empathy, ideation, and prototyping lead to solutions.

   • Why It Matters: It shifts the mindset from “problem-focused” to “solution-oriented,” encouraging creativity and teamwork.

   • Example: A team facing low morale might brainstorm ways to improve communication or recognize achievements, testing these changes for impact.

     
     

5. Follow Through with Accountability and Transparency

   • Practice: Use critical thinking to evaluate the proposed solutions and ensure follow-through with measurable outcomes. Communicate progress clearly and regularly.

   • Why It Matters: Transparency builds trust, while accountability ensures momentum isn’t lost.

   • Example: After addressing family tension, setting check-ins to discuss progress shows commitment. In business, tracking and sharing key performance indicators (KPIs) demonstrates that the solutions are effective.

     
     

Lead the Elephant out of the room

By integrating these thinking practices:

• Emotional Intelligence ensures sensitivity in broaching tough topics.

• Psychological Safety creates a culture of openness.

• Systems Thinking identifies root causes and connections.

• Design Thinking empowers collaborative and innovative solutions.

• Critical Thinking ensures the actions taken are sustainable and impactful.

  
  

Whether addressing unspoken tensions at home or systemic challenges in the workplace, thoughtful leaders don’t just solve problems—they inspire growth, build trust, and leave lasting positive change.